Travel to and around Europe is set to change for Brits in quite a major way later this year. If you go on holiday to places like France, Greece or Italy from October onwards, don’t be alarmed when you’re asked for your finger prints or your facial biometric before you can travel. It’ll be part of the EU’s long-planned entry/entry exit system (EES), which it has called the ‘most modern digital border management system in the world’.
The initial plan was to launch the system in one ‘big bang’. But the original deadline in November last year wasn’t met and it was decided that the tech would be rolled out gradually over a six month period instead.
This week, the EU revealed a few new updates to the EES plan, most importantly clarifying when the system will begin to be implemented and a change to the cost of the euro-visa that Brits will need later down the line. Here’s a breakdown of everything you should know.
What’s the difference between EES and ETIAS?
EES
EES stands for Entry/Exit System. It will digitally register travellers from non-EU countries every time they cross a border into or out of the EU, meaning that their travel history will be recorded digitally and they’ll no longer need passport stamps. The aim is to make travelling through airports more efficient and to ‘improve border security’.
Once it’s in place, the EES will require travellers to register their four of their fingerprints and their facial biometrics at the border (kids under 12 won’t have to provide fingerprints). You won’t need to register to travel again for three years, unless you get a new passport. At border control, you’ll scan your passport at an automated self-service kiosk, replacing the manual passport stamping.
ETIAS
ETIAS, which has also been referred to as a ‘euro-visa’, stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. This is the system that requires non-EU passport holders (like Brits) to apply for a visa waiver. It allows holders to stay in European countries for up to 90 days within any 180 day period (but if you stay in Cyprus, that’ll be calculated separately).
The euro-visa last three years or until your current passport expires (whichever comes first), at which point you’ll have to renew. It’s will only come into place once EES has been fully rolled out.
How much will the ‘visa’ cost?
At first, the EU said that the application for the ETIAS would cost €7 (around £6) but that amount has now nearly tripled to €20 (£17). It’s also non-refundable, so you won’t get your money back if your application is refused.
There are some people who won’t have to pay though. The EU says: ‘Applicants who are under 18 or over 70 years of age are exempt from this payment. Also exempt are family members of EU citizens and family members of non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely throughout the European Union.’
When will they be introduced?
The EES is due to start being rolled out from October 12, 2025 and will be fully operational by April 10, 2026. The EU says that ETIAs will ‘start operations in the last quarter of 2026’, but it’s not expected to be a requirement for all Brits until April 2027.
Where will EES apply?
EES is being launched across the whole Schengen Area, which is a group of 29 countries that have agreed to an open border. There are 25 EU countries and four non-EU European countries that will implement EES. They are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
ICYMI: All the countries on the UK’s ‘do not travel’ list for summer 2025.
Plus: Could British Airways soon get rid of back-seat screens on long-haul flights?
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